Why Apollo Doctor from Chennai says Better immunity means you will not get Coronavirus
Every day, more number of COVID-19 cases are being reported across the country. From a 10-month-old baby to persons over 90 years of age, the novel coronavirus has not spared any. Recovery rates, on the other hand, have been slow but positive. While discussing how to stay safe, the topic of one’s immunity levels features in bold.
TNM spoke to Dr v Ramasubramanian, Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases at Apollo Hospitals in chennai on who is more susceptible to catching the infection, the possibility of getting infected again, on asymptomatic cases, herd immunity and the possibility of a vaccine in the coming days. If people with better immunity won’t get affected… then children within three years of age who are generally poor when it comes to immunity levels when they develop COVID-19, should all die. But that’s not the case. There is a lot for us to study the virus. We still don't know what are the protective antibodies against the virus.
98% who get infected with SAR-CoV2 recover. 80% recover without even going to the hospital and another 15% may go to the hospital, may end up in the ICU and still recover. Only 1% or less than 1% die. So when you say recover, it means you do have immunity to the infection. Beyond a certain level, if 80% have already been infected and recovered and if only 20% of the population is susceptible, then the chances of infecting three other persons may not happen. In other words, if the majority of the population have immunity, the chances of this virus spreading is very little. The pandemic will end. This can be acquired in two ways either 70 to 80% of the population must get infected and recover, and second is if they are vaccinated. As of now, vaccination looks quite far.